DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES Colorado Combative Sports Commission COMBATIVE SPORTS RULES 4 CCR 740-1 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER I GENERAL RULES 1.1 DEFINITIONS A. Bout. Match, exhibition or contest between two participants involving a combative sport. B. Boxing. Any physical bout between two individuals striking with hands to outscore, knock out, or otherwise disable an opponent into submission. C. Contest. A bout or match in which the participants strive earnestly to win. D. Chief Inspector. An official assigned to carry out all duties as assigned by the Director. E. Combative sport. Boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and martial arts. F. Commission. The Colorado Commission of Combative Sports. G. Commission representative: The Director or an official. H. Director. The Director of the Colorado Office of Combative Sports. I. Division Director. Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations, within the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. J. Event. A compilation of bouts that occur at one location during a single day. K. Fraud. Any licensee who cheats, obtains money or some other benefit, or misrepresents facts by deliberate and willful deception. L. Kick. A strike using the foot or feet. M. Kickboxing. Any physical bout between two individuals striking with the hand and any part of the leg below the hip, including the feet to outscore, knock out or otherwise disable an opponent into submission. N. Official. Any person who performs an official function during the supervision of a contest or exhibition. This includes referees, judges, timekeepers and inspectors. O. Martial Art. Includes by way of example and not limitated to: aikido, judo, jujitsu, karate, kendo, kung fu, sumo wrestling, t' ai chi, tae kwon do, or wrestling. 1 CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS 4 CCR 740-1 Colorado Combative Sports Commission P. Mixed Martial Art. Any physical contact bout between two or more individuals who attempt to outscore, knock out, or gain submission of the opponent by using any combination of boxing, kicking, choking techniques, or martial art. Q. Non-Sanctioned organization. Is an organization that is not governed by a state or tribal athletic Commission. R. Participant. Any individual who competes in a combative sport bout. S. Professional. A contest or match in which participants compete for or receive a purse or anything of value. T. Promoter. Any person, association, corporation, or organization licensed to promote events. U. Purse. A bout earning, a financial guarantee or any other remuneration for which participants are participating in a contest or exhibition and includes the participant’s share of any payment received for radio broadcasting, television or motion picture rights. V. Reinstatement. The process by which an expired license is returned to Active status. W. Renewal. The process of retaining an active license in accordance with the schedule established by the Division Director pursuant to Sections 12-10-106.5, C.R.S. and 24-34-102, C.R.S. X. Sanctioned Organization. An organization that sanctions professional bouts of boxing, kickboxing or mixed martial arts or martial arts by a state or tribal athletic Commission. 1.2 APPLICABILITY OF RULES These rules apply only to professional combative sports events where purses or prizes may be given. These rules do not apply to events that are exclusively amateur in nature. 1.3 VIOLATIONS OF RULES Violations of any provision of these rules may result in immediate ejection from event, a ban from future events and subject the licensee to disciplinary action. 1.4 RESPONSIBILITY All promoters, participants, seconds and officials associated with combative sport events shall acquaint themselves with and comply with all applicable laws and rules of the Commission. 1.5 IMPROPER CONDUCT, FOUL OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE EJECTION A. The use of foul or abusive language or mannerisms or threats of physical harm by any person at any permitted event shall not be tolerated. This includes all press conferences, weigh-ins and any aspect of an event. In addition, prohibited conduct includes unfair dealings, unsportsmanlike conduct, protesting the decisions of the officials, or violating any laws or rules. B. If improper conduct occurs at any permitted event, the Director or chief inspector may eject the individual and forbid such person from acting in any capacity in connection with that or any subsequent permitted event. Any licensee who refuses to obey an order by the Director or chief inspector to leave the premises because of conduct prohibited in this paragraph, or any person who returns to the premises in violation of the Director’s or chief inspector’s order may be subject to further disciplinary action. 2 CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS 4 CCR 740-1 Colorado Combative Sports Commission 1.6 MODIFICATION OF BOUT RESULT A. Should the Director determine one or more of the following factors exist, the Director may request a hearing on a result modification matter: i. Indications of collusion affecting the result of the bout are present; ii. The compilation of the scorecards of the judges disclosed an error which showed that the decision was given to the wrong participant; or, iii. An error interpreting the rules that may have resulted in an incorrect decision. iv. A positive test result reveals the use of a prohibited drug, substance, or method. 1.7 USE OF INSTANT REPLAY A. Should the Director approve the use of instant replay prior to an event, only the referee may determine if the use of instant replay is indicated. B. The referee shall only use instant replay for the purpose of determining if a foul was committed that caused a “bout ending sequence” that brought about the final end of the fight. C. Based on the instant-replay review, the referee may make the final call with respect to the bout that could result in one of the following decisions: a winner of the bout; a “no-contest” determination; a disqualification; or a technical decision by the judges. CHAPTER 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN ALL BOUTS 2.1 LICENSE TO FIGHT APPLICATIONS A license is required for a participant to fight in a professional combative sports contest. All participants shall submit an application for a license to fight in a manner prescribed by the Division Director. Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be accepted. 2.2 FEES Each applicant for a license shall pay the required fee before the license to fight is granted. The license fee schedule is established by the Division Director pursuant to § 24-34-105, C.R.S. 2.3 MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT Any person who wishes to apply for a participant license must be a minimum age of eighteen, unless a signed verification of approval and waiver is signed by the parent or legal guardian and the Director approves. 2.4 FEDERAL REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT A. Pursuant to the “Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996” all professional boxing participants must be registered with the recognized boxing federal registry and obtain a federal identification card in order to participate in boxing bouts anywhere in the United States. Therefore, all professional boxing participants shall show proof of registration. All Mixed Martial Arts participants must register for a National Identification card. 3 CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS 4 CCR 740-1 Colorado Combative Sports Commission B. Any boxing debut participant must be registered with a federal identification card within seven days prior to the first bout. The participant shall not be permitted to box in any contest scheduled for more than four rounds for the participants first four bouts, and shall not be permitted to compete in any bout of more than six rounds until the participant has participated in ten or more professional bouts, unless approved by the Director. C Each participant will present their identification card or completed application to the Director or chief inspector no later than the scheduled time of the weigh-in for a bout. A participant, who is unable to produce their identification card or establish with the Director or chief inspector that they have a current federal identification, will not be permitted to participate in the bout. 2.5 WEIGH-INS AND FIGHT APPEARANCE A. Each participant must be weighed in the presence of a Commission representative as designated by the Director, on scales approved by the Director and at a place designated by the Director. The participants may have all items of weight stripped from their body before they are weighed in. All participants shall appear at the weigh-in and event on time as required by the Director. All participants must report to the Director or chief inspector as soon as they arrive to the weigh-in and event at a place designated by the Director. Failure to report to the Director or chief inspector on time may disqualify the participant from competing and may subject the participant to disciplinary action. Unless a championship bout, participants’ weights will be rounded down to the nearest pound. The weigh-in shall be no less than six hours and no more than 36 hours prior to the scheduled event. The Director may require participants to be weighed more than once for major bouts/events. B. Participants are not allowed to leave the designed weigh-in area until such time as they are notified by the Director or the chief inspector. 2.6 FAILURE TO MAKE CONTRACTED WEIGHT A participant who at the scheduled time of weigh-in fails to meet the weight specified in the contract between the promoter and the participant may be disqualified from competing and may be subject to disciplinary action. 2.7 PARTICIPANTS' APPEARANCE A. Participants shall not be permitted to have excessive petroleum jelly, grease or foreign substances on any part of their body.